May 2000 Cup
Commander takes over government
ON December 5, 2006 at 6pm Government was taken over by the army commander, commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. This newspaper on its front page on Wednesday December 6 published the headline 'Army takes over'. The news was declared at a press conference that was held at the army barracks in Nabua. In taking over, commodore Bainimarama also named the former Fiji Medical Association president, Jona Senilagakali as the interim prime minister. Commodore Bainimarama according to the article had urged the nation to remain calm and to not be anxious of the latest developments. "As of 6 o'clock this evening the military has taken over the government as executive authority in the running of this country," he said. "I urge all citizens to remain calm and to maintain the peace which currently prevails. "As of now the military and police are working together to ensure that the situation remains calm and that the people do not take advantage of the current situation and break the law. "As a precautionary measure the security forces will be putting up many checkpoints, which will be removed in about five days, within towns and city boundaries and near critical infrastructure." He revealed that there wasn't going to be any curfew or movements around the country. He said the then prime minister Laisenia Qarase had no intention of solving the impasse. He said the army believed in the adherence to the law and constitution. Commodore Bainimarama had given government ministers a month from December 6 to vacate government quarters they were occupying and to return all government properties. He added that they would be paid a month's severance pay. "There is no intention by the military to arrest these ministers," he said. "We only ask that they leave their daily lives and that they not interfere in the process that is now taking place." The declaration from the military commander followed after months of differences between the government and military. It came after armed soldiers entered the official residence of the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase demanding his vehicle keys before storming in again 25 minutes later to remove the two official vehicles from his compound. More than 20 police guards negotiated with the soldiers not to enter the compound as they handed over the keys to them. A couple of minutes later the soldiers in a white twin cab returned demanding that they take out the two government vehicles from Qarase's compound. A few minutes later more than 20 soldiers arrived in a truck pushing and shoving journalists before persuading them to move to the junction of Richards Rd as they carried out their business. According to the report, Mr Qarase did not meet the president on December 5 instead met with Home Affairs minister, Josefa Vosanibola, Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale, Education Minister, Ro Teimumu Kepa, Foreign Affairs minister, senator Kaliopate Tavola and Finance minister, Ratu Jone Kubuabola. Australia had indicated it will suspend defence ties with Fiji if and when the military formally ousts the democratically elected government. Foreign minister, Alexander Downer said the Australian Government would formally suspend defence co-operation as soon as Mr Qarase was clearly not the prime minister anymore. "We are seeing a coup in progress, I call it a creeping coup, its moving hour by hours day by day," he said.
New Zealand became the first country to impose sanctions on Fiji in light of the political crisis.
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced a number of measures they were forced to make. It included imposing of travel bans on senior Fiji military officials and their families, suspending Fiji from the Commonwealth and suspending bilateral defence ties.
"A range of further measures are available to the New Zealand Government and will be based on our reactions to coup activity in 2000 and will be implemented progressively unless commodore Bainimarama and the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo withdraw from their unconstitutional actions," she said.
According to this newspaper, the Fiji Military Forces had seized control of all government vehicles assigned to ministers and had taken the keys to Mr Qarase's office.
"It is clear that their intention is to bring to a standstill the functioning of my elected government," Mr Qarase said.
He said a new demand from commodore Bainimarama was for the government to extend his contract to 2012 even though his current five year contract had another two years to run.
This newspaper reported that Mr Qarase wanted to convene a special meeting of cabinet on December 5 after the president and vice president, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi received the fresh demands.
Mr Qarase said Ratu Josefa wanted him to totally accept the military's demands or resign.
"I want to inform you all the people of Fiji that as your elected prime minister, I have absolutely refused to bend to the demands," he said.
"Under no circumstances will I resign or advise Ratu Josefa to dissolve Parliament – there is no reason for that."